Concentration of ores



Patented Apr. 21-, 1931' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FREDERICK G. MOSES, OF NEW YORK, RAYMOND W. HESS, OF BUFFALO, AND ROBERT L. PERKINS, OF EAST AURORAQNEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO THE BARRETT COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A. CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY CONCENTRATION OF ORES No Drawing. Application filed May 20,

This invention relates to the separation of minerals and the concentration of ores by flotation processes, and is particularly direct-ed to such separation and concentration carried out with the utilization of certain oxazole compounds as flotation or mineral collecting agents.

According to the present invention, improved results can be obtained in the separation of minerals and the concentration of ores by carrying out the flotation operation with the addition to the ore or mineral pulp of a mercapto-oxazole compound, particularly a mercaptoaroxazole compound, and especially l-mercaptobenzoxazole.

The mercapto-oxazoles, or oxazyl mercaptans, employed as flotation agents or adjuvants in the process of the present invention are generally characterized by containing the following nucleus:

CN\ g csn l-mercaptobenzoxazole, which is a mercaptoaroxazole of the benzene series, corresponds in the free state with the formulaner or at any suitable time which will insure a satisfactory flotation operation. For example, it may be introduced in the free state or as a salt into the mill in which the ore is being ground, or it may be dissolved, suspended, or dispersed in any suitable solvent or dispersing agent as, for example, 1n one or more of the usual flotation oils or oil mix- 1927. Serial No. 193,058.

tures, or in any suitable organic, solvent or medium, or in water or in alkali or an alkaline reagent, and the resulting solution, suspension, or dispersion incorporated with ore or mineral pulp. While the agents of the present invention show marked action as flotation or collecting agents in ore concentration, they ordinarily possess insuflicient frothing qualities and are therefore. generally used to advantage in conjunction with any suitable or well-known frothing agent, e. g., pine oil, crude turpentine, coal tar acids, etc. They may be also sometimes used to advantage in conjunction with other flotation agents. They may be used in the pure or purified state; and, in general, they may also be employed in the crude or impure state.

The process of the present invention can be carried out in any suitable apparatus, for example, those of the pneumatic type such as the Callow cell, or those where the air is incorporated with the mixture by agitation such as the J anney apparatus, or the like.

It is of advantage in some cases, as with certain-copper ores, to subject the ore pulp to the action of an amount of alkali sufficient'to give it an alkaline reaction before subjecting it to flotation with the flotation agents of the present invention. The alkali may be caustic alkali such as caustic soda, or an alkaline salt such as soda ash, or it may be calcium oxide or hydrate.

In the differential separation of various minerals, such as zinc blende from associated minerals, the presence of an alkali metal cyanide, or of copper sulfate or other salts, is sometimes advantageous.

The amount of flotation agent required to be used in the flotation process will vary, it depending partly on the character and composition of the ore, partly on the particular inercapto-oxazole compound employed, and partly on other factors. Ordinarily, onesixth to one-half pound of the flotation agent per ton of dry ore will be sufficient, but larger or smaller amounts than this may be used.

The invention will be further illustrated by the following specific example, but it will be understood that the invention is not lim ited thereto. The parts are by weight Ewa mple.500 parts of a 'copper sulfide ore (of the Inspiration Copper Co.) assaying 1.38 percent copper was ground in a ball mill with 250 parts of water, 0.75 parts of hydrated lime (equivalent to 3 pounds per 'ton of ore), and 0.0625 parts of l-mercaptobenzoxazole (equivalent to one-fourth pound per ton of ore), until practically all of it was sufficiently fine to pass through a 40-mesh screen. The ground pulp was diluted with sufficient water to give a pulp' containing about 16 ercent solids and subjected to flotation in a ganney mechanical apparatus. The mixture Was agitated for 30 minutes during which time about 0.12 parts of pine oil was introduced. 78.2 parts of a concentrate assaying/7.62 percent copper was obtained which is a recovery in the concentrate of 85.6 percent of the copper. The tailings assayed 0.24 percent copper.

It will thus be noted that the present invention contemplates the utilization as flotation agents in the separation of minerals and general application to the treatment of dif fere'nt kinds of mineral substances, both natural and artificiahby flotation.

It will be further understood that the invention is not limited to the use of the particular agents or ingredients mentioned in the example and that other agents, particularly other flotation agents of the class specified, can be similarly used.

We claim: 7 V 1. In effecting the separation of minerals, the process which comprises incorporating a mercapto-oxazolecompound with the min.- eral pulp, and subjecting the resulting mix:- ture to a froth flotation operation.

2. In effecting the separation of minerals, the process which comprises incorporatin with the mineral pulp an or anic com ounld containing the following pro able nuc eus and subjecting the resulting mixture to -a froth flotation operation.

3. In effecting the separation of minerals, the process which comprises incorporatin with the mineral pulp an organic compoundcontaining the following probable grouping iii? an jecting the resulting mixture to a froth flowherein the two adj acent' carbon atoms of said grouping form a part of a benzene rlng,

and subjecting the resulting mixture to a froth flotation'operation.

4. In efiecting the separation of minerals, the process which comprises incorporating a mercapto-aroxazole, or a derivative thereof, with the mineral pulp, and subjecting the resulting mixture to a froth flotation operation. v

5. In etfecting the separation of minerals, the process, which comprises incorporating a mercapto-benzoxazole compound with the mineral pulp, and subjecting the resulting mixture to a froth flotation operation.

6. In efl'ecting the concentration of minerals, the process which comprises incorporating l-znercaptohenzoxazole with the minei'al pulp, and subjecting the resulting mixture to a froth flotation operation.

7 In effecting the separation of copper sulfide minerals, the process which comprises incorporating a mercapto oxazole' compound with a copper sulfide mineral pulp, .and subtation.

8. In effecting the separation of copper sulfide minerals, the process'which comprises incorporating a mercapto aroxazole or a derivative thereof with a copper sulfide mineral pulp, and subjecting the resulting mixture toa froth flotation operation.

9. In effecting the separation ofcopper sulfideminerals, the process which comprises I incorporatin l-mercapto henzoxazole with a copper sul de mineral pulp, and subjecting the resultingmixture to a froth flotation operation.

In testimony whereof we aifix oursignatures.

FREDERICK e. MOSES. RAYMOND HESS. ROBERT L. PERKINS. 

